Civil Fraud and Investigations

Our established and highly experienced team of specialist civil fraud lawyers  can help to find, preserve and recover stolen money and assets around the world

The cost of fraud to businesses and individuals runs into billions of pounds each year. The international nature of commerce and increased reliance on electronic communications means that there has been a sharp increase in the number and value of fraud claims. 

We act for both the victims of fraud and the defendants to civil fraud proceedings. Our Partners are ranked both as a team and individually in the legal directories, Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.

When fraud is suspected or discovered, the first steps are critical. At short notice, we can assemble a multi-disciplinary team to advise on all aspects, regardless of the scale and reach of the issue, providing swift strategic and tactical advice. We have wide experience in conducting internal investigations where the fraud has been perpetrated by someone within your company. For fraud matters that have a criminal aspect, we are uniquely placed to draw upon the expertise of our second-to-none criminal fraud team.

For victims of fraud, we have experience of finding, preserving and recovering stolen money and assets around the world and have regularly advised on seeking and obtaining freezing injunctions to preserve such assets.

For defendants who are accused of fraud, we have defended allegations on some of the biggest fraud cases to date involving freezing (and other) injunctions. We often work alongside our Criminal and Employment departments in matters that involve such implications.

We have acted on high profile and important recent fraud cases including:

• acting for a trustee in bankruptcy seeking to challenge various transactions, including a divorce settlement, and to challenge an employee benefit trust on the basis that it was a sham.
• obtaining the only judgment in favour of a member of the Ablyazov family in the wide-ranging and on-going litigation brought by BTA Bank;
• acting for the liquidator of a Cayman company which was appointed to invest pension money in relation to a pension scheme being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office; and
• acting for an African government trying to recover assets stolen by a former head of state.

What clients and directories have said

Our experienced team is recognised by the legal directories Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.

The team is highly knowledgeable, easy to work with and produces an extremely high standard of work."
Chambers and Partners 2019

Everything they do in their approach to cases is commercially astute and pragmatic."

Chambers and Partners, 2019

"They have a really deep expertise in fraud."

Chambers and Partners, 2018

"They're good at dealing with the client and fighting the case. I'd certainly recommend them."

Chambers and Partners, 2017

"They do top-level work."  

Chambers UK, 2017

...offers top quality service..."             
Legal 500 UK, 2015

For more information, read our frequently asked questions on civil fraud vs criminal fraud disputes  and details regarding supervising solicitors.